Discovered that the Scot Gov is running a consultation on changing the rules to allow public roads to be closed for motor racing. Thought some folk here might like to have their voices heard.
https://consult.gov.scot/transport-scotland/motorsports-on-closed-public-roads/consultation/subpage.2016-07-07.1474135251/
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Motorsport on public roads-Consultation
(12 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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The usual problem with this is, it is impossible to control where spectators stand on a large course - usually they end up choosing the most "spectacular" bends.
And then the inevitable car comes flying off the road (all by itself), wiping out a whole load of them and their innocent children...
Posted 5 years ago # -
Ok not been on here for a while! Motorsports on public roads, I believe that this is still actually permitted, closed roads is another matter. I used to marshal on stage rallies and yes control of the spectators is indeed one of the biggest problems . As far as I used to understand the “ law “ regarding these, the motorsport authaurity ( whomever they were, are? ) “ employ” volunteers who are given the status of special Constable for the duration of the event....
anyway , group B rally cars during the 1980s were the death of many people as they got almost as fast as formula 1 cars, on gravel , etc ! I suspect, and I may be wrong , no connection with motor sport now, that closed road events would be fairly small , hill climb types with very specific and controllable roads, closing roads , even for accident diversions by local plod seems beyond the skills of many at the moment ! The health and safety “ laws” in this country would almost mean that the public road would become a race track , with all the race road furniture, run off areas , Armco, first aid ambulance parking etc , right next to aforementioned corners. These would be tracks used as public roads!!! The Scottish rally, rac of old used public roads ONLY as a means of getting form one special
Stage to another, and the polis did set up speed traps to catch them !!!
I don’t think this will go anywhere !! The cost will be horrendous to the organisers with additional hue n cry from everyday road users, cycle races( events) on the A 90 will no doubt continue !Posted 5 years ago # -
Motorsport on public roads is perfectly possible. The Isle of Man has over a century's experience and it is, given the huge vehicle energies and the near-uniform intoxication of the spectators, very safely done. The whole community joins in to marshal and welcome visitors and residents. The riders are at enormous risk, but that's their choice.
I always wondered if Scotland could have a similar closed road course running Drumnadrochit-Cannich-Beauly-Drumnadrochit.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Nice idea !! But the iom are pretty much clued up from an early age about the racing, can you imagine trying to get old farmer Mac Donald to comply with road diversions in his 70 year old fergie, he has no driving licence , dosnt read the local newspaper and can’t get a tv signal ! Maybe a bit stereotypical but just yatoobe rally car hits tractor!! Personally I would love it but alas I feel impossible , scotland has many fantastic stage rallies knockhill hosts all sort of two and four wheeled events( great day out of the weathers fair) and the NC 500 is just a car park interspersed with motorhomes and bikes! If you really need a fix of bending scraping metal head to Cowdenbeath, stock cars might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if it is, it’s fantastic ! Not too sure about scrambles, they used to be everywhere, and two stroke oil would waft across the countryside! Great !!!! Six day trial in the Ben , many nights of happy intoxication !!! 10 on the Ben was slightly different, different age of body !!!
Just can’t see it working!Posted 5 years ago # -
@splitshift How did the Jim Clark and Mull rallies run in the past on closed roads? Am confused...
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks Ed1
Posted 5 years ago # -
In the past, the Isle of Mull clues in the first word ! A closed island, not sure if it still runs, the Jim Clark, not too familiar with it, was it a closed road event? Was it special stage ? We used to run , what were called ( thinks !!!) 12 car rally on open public roads, in the sticks, time trials not full blown fire breathing sideways stuff ! I am no expert here!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Sorry got mixed up there, Jim Clark rally , yes was on public closed roads, not sure how it happened, there were very few public closed road events. I personally don’t think that they can ever be as safe( ! ) as a dedicated track event , our old adage was never to hit a tree, they don’t move, no matter what roll crash cage or safety things you have they just don’t move !!
I think that because the “ discussion “ is taking place then perhaps someone is trying, but I think , all public closed road events ended after the jc fatalities ? Like I say no expert, I am here to look for stuff on bikes , just chuck my tuppenceworth in every now n then !I used to really like motorsport but it’s very much an elite money thing, no matter what most might say, there are cheaper firms if motorsport but even they require the use of a fairly expensive but of metal ! Now banger racing...... if you’ve got the b, sorry nerves, that’s a blast !!!30 ford Granada’s aiming at youPosted 5 years ago # -
Back in the 90s we had a rally go down our quiet country road (south of the border) in the middle of the night.
Can't quite recall all the details but I remember walking home from the pub and a succession of cars revving along and not responding to me having my thumb out for a lift, which was unusual for our road. It took a few going past until I realised what was going on...
I did speak to the Police about it but they were okay because of reasons...
Posted 5 years ago #
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